Saudi officer dies at the Ritz-Carlton

As the brigadier Ali bin Abdullah al-Jarash al-Qahtani was announced dead, Saudi Arabia’s opposition abroad have questioned his death.

According to Middle East Monitor (MEM), it is believed that the officer was subjected to torture at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, where members of the royal family, ministers, and businessmen were detained earlier in November.

Al-Qahtani was arrested among other figures on charges of corruption.

“Al-Qahtani’s health condition was good and he did not suffer from any illness prior to his arrest,” MEM quoted an opposition source.

Official reports say al-Qahtani died from a stroke.

However, his sons did not declare the real reason.

Meanwhile, they did not deny that their father was subjected to torture leading to their father’s death.

The Saudi government was condemned for not allowing relatives to visit the detainees by international human rights organizations.

Saudi’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud announced on Saturday 4 November, the formation of a new anti-corruption committee, headed by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Later that evening, Al Arabiya television announced that 11 princes, four current ministers and dozens of former ministers were arrested.

Al-Qahtani was among the figures charged with corruption and was arrested with suspicions linked to the Riyadh metro project.